Franklin Light Opera’s upcoming production of “Fiddler on the Roof” is about more than putting on a beloved musical. It’s an opportunity to bring together a multigenerational cast, introduce audiences to Jewish traditions, and build community through theater.
The production, directed by John Schultz, will feature a cast of 45 performers ranging in age from 8 to 70, making it the largest production Franklin Light Opera has done. The show will include a live six-piece orchestra and an actress-violinist playing the fiddler.
For Karen Dumont, president of Franklin Light Opera, choosing this show is also personal. Shortly after college, she played Hodel in a community theater production in Rochester, New York.
“We had all ages, and it was such a big cast and such a wonderful community experience. I’ve had that in the back of my mind for quite a long time,” Dumont said.
She co-founded Franklin Light Opera in 2020 with a mission to create opportunities for local performers to bring classical musical theater to life in Franklin.
The scale of “Fiddler” is a significant step for the organization. Previous Franklin Light Opera productions typically featured casts of 11 to 24 performers. For this production, 77 people auditioned, and the organization double cast several young roles to accommodate more performers.
The cast also includes several parent-child pairs, including Dumont, her husband, and their son.
“It’s really a thrill to be able to do something with your daughter, with your son, versus just dropping them off at rehearsal and going to see their show,” Dumont said.
Schultz, a board member and director, has appeared in 185 shows and has directed about 80 productions in his lifetime. This will be his third time directing “Fiddler.”
Schultz said it’s one of the most magical shows. The story explores themes that are still relevant today.
“It’s not about a Jewish town in Russia. It is about that, but it’s about family and prejudice and getting along and the place of tradition in what we do, and it’s timeless,” Schultz said.
The production is taking special care to portray Jewish life accurately. Howard Snyder, who plays the rabbi, is also serving as the production’s dramaturg, researching the historical and cultural details represented on stage and helping educate the cast and production team.
Snyder has worked on multiple productions of Fiddler and previously served as dramaturg for Belmont University’s 2017 production. His connection to the show is personal. He first saw the Broadway musical when he was 10 years old and has seen many productions since. His grandparents came to the United States from Russia around the same time depicted in the musical.
“I love the music, it’s such a great musical, but it’s so much more than that. It’s my family,” Snyder said. “I’m invested in the show. I’m invested in theater that has Jewish content and representation and wanting to make sure that that is done correctly,” Snyder said.
He’s helped with everything from pronunciation of Yiddish names to the details of Jewish rituals, including the Sabbath prayer and wedding ceremony. He also encouraged the inclusion of a mezuzah on Tevye’s home, a detail not specified in the script.
“My main job is to help ensure that everything that the audience sees and hears on stage is accurate,” Snyder said.
He was also part of helping adjust the show schedule to accommodate Jewish cast and audience members during the High Holy Days. After noticing that the original dates included a time that was close to conflicting with Yom Kippur, Snyder worked with Dumont and Schultz to adjust a performance time.
The production aims to remind audiences that the story reflects real history.
“It’s not just a piece of fun theater,” Schultz said. “It is fun theater, but there’s another message here that this is a little picture of something that really happened.”
For Dumont, “I would say they’re (audience) going to see a powerful statement of what family and tradition means, and love and community.”
The production will run at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center, Sept. 18-20. For more information or tickets, visit www.franklinlightopera.com.
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